June 16

The “Domestic Workers and Convention 189: Making it real!” workshop took place in Nairobi, June 14-17, 2018. On the 16th, a press conference was held to mark International Domestic Workers Day in support of Kenyan workers’ demand for the Government to ratify Convention 189.

NDWF - Jharkhand Domestic Workers Union
500 domestic workers from five districts came together in an assembly to celebrate June 16. They demand for C189 ratification, law for domestic workers, Minimum wages of domestic workers and BPL. Guests include parliament member, member of Legislative Assembly.

After 7 years of unattainable struggle of the Domestic Workers, today the Ratification of ILO Convention 189, and its recommendation 201, was debated and approved in the Plenary of the Congress of the Republic.

Since the early 1900s when women began migrating to Canada to work as caregivers, we have been organizing. And we will continue organizing until Canada ratifies ILO Convention 189, until caregivers have permanent residency status upon arrival, and until all caregivers are treated with respect and dignity.

'Domestic workers speak: a global fight for rights and recognition' showcases the diversity and power of the domestic workers' rights movement. Featuring contributions from 23 worker-led groups, it details the struggle of domestic workers, explores their solidarity and methods of resistance, and calls for comprehensive rights for the world's most invisible workforce.

Campaigning for implementation of C189 In Dominican Republic, IDWF affiliate Asociación de Trabajadoras del Hogar (ATH), organized a group of 150 people on 16 June to protest and remind the government of domestic workers rights as set on C189.

In 2017, 21.3 million people worldwide are refugees displaced from their homelands. One of the few employment options available to women (and girl) refugees, who account for 50 per cent of this population, is domestic work. The sector – loosely regulated and with limited barriers to entry – attracts many refugees who otherwise find it difficult to obtain work permits and to have their degrees and qualifications recognized.

This year, Cambodia Domestic Workers Network (CDWN) and Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA) had a petition submitting to the Ministry of Labour and National Assembly on June 16. They also did a forum on June 19 to discuss and promote the rights of domestic workers.

On International Domestic Workers’ Day, we celebrate a growing movement to assert the rights of this vast but hidden workforce. An estimated 67.1 million people are employed in domestic work around the world, most of them women. They cook, clean, and care for children and the elderly. But working behind closed doors in private homes, many have few legal protections and regularly experience exploitation and abuse.

What we do know is that because of the extreme power imbalance within the employment relationship and isolated working conditions not subject to standard labour inspection, domestic workers are among the most marginalised and exploited workers in the world today. This is particularly true for those working for diplomatic and foreign officials.

On June 16 2011, the ILO adopted Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers and its accompanying Recommendation 201. Since then, after a slow start progress has been made: 22 countries have ratified the convention, more than 30 have extended legislative protections to domestic workers.

Over 35% of the domestic workers worldwide are accounted for in Asia where the Philippines remains the only country to ratify international labour standards for their protection. Changes are brewing and support is needed.

In Trinidad and Tobago, domestic work (estimated at 30,000 employees by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago) is a growing sector. The members of the National Union of Domestic Workers (NUDE) formed Service Workers Centre Cooperative Society (SWCCS) in 2014 for improved benefits and working conditions and to have a legal entity for domestic workers that is recognized by employers. Domestic workers’ participation in a democratic workplace upholds their rights as workers and as citizens of our society. The work of the ILO on this topic is guided by the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) , which to date has been adopted by 22 countries.

Nepal Home workers Union affiliates of Nepal Trade Union Congress organized a conference on "Awareness on ILO Convention C189 and My Fair Home Campaign" to observe the 5th Anniversary of C189 and as the International Domestic Workers Day.

My Fair Home Campaign was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Deputy Secretary General of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) on the occasion of International Domestic Workers Day, June 16.

IDWF affiliate, Syndicat des Travailleurs/ses Domestiques et des Travailleurs/ses de l’Economie Informelle de Côte d’Ivoire (SYTTEID-CI) had a celebration for International Domestic workers Day on June 16.

On 16 June 2011, workers, employers and governments came together to adopt ILO Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers. In the last five years since its adoption, some 70 countries around the world have taken action to advance decent work for domestic workers.